There’s a new meme going around writers’ blogs. Each author is invited to interview a character in one of their own recently published or upcoming works. I’ve been tagged to participate by Laurel Anne Hill (http://www.laurelannehill.com), author of Heroes Arise and a new “spirit meets steampunk” novel called The Engineer Woman’s Light. You can read her character’s blog interview here.

Since As Above, So Below is on my mind at the moment — what with the release of its namesake film this weekend — I thought I’d interview Lorelei, the succubus heroine.  Well, she thinks she’s the heroine.

In the beginning of the novel, Lorelei leaves the human she was dancing with to buy a drink for an angel hunched miserably over the bar at her master’s dance club. Lorelei can tell by looking at him that he has been cast out of heaven, but isn’t yet fallen. Never one to back down from a dare, Lorelei makes his fall her mission.  Of course, the angel has plans of his own…

1.) What is the name of your character?

Lorelei. No last name needed, like Madonna or Cher or Pink.

2.) Is she fictional or a historic person?

She likes to think of herself as historic.  After all, she bought Jimmy Page’s soul (in my short story “Never Bargained for You”) and warmed Joe Stalin’s bed.

3.) When and where is the story set? 

As Above, So Below takes place in modern-day Los Angeles: in its dance clubs, burned-out churches, a storm drain beside the LA River, and in a park up by the Hollywood Bowl.  My co-writer Brian Thomas lived in LA while we wrote the book and did a lot of work to ground it in real places.

4.) What should we know about her?

Lorelei loves a challenge.  She doesn’t like to contract herself with one person, unless that person’s downfall is going to drag a whole lot of other souls along.  She’d rather flit from person to person, sowing damnation as she goes, looking for a much bigger score.  A melancholy angel is just too tempting for her to resist.  She takes enormous pride in being a succubus.

5.) What messes up her life?

Countries crumble easier than angels fall, even angels of questionable morals like Azaziel.  Once Lorelei sets her sights on him, Aza injects a mortal girl’s soul into Lorelei’s infernal flesh — and our girl spends the rest of the novel fighting her dual nature and preparing for her exorcism.  Azaziel says he wanted to show Lorelei love, but what she really learns is empathy.

6.) What is the personal goal of the character?

Lorelei’s goal changes over the course of the book.  She starts out wanting to bring Aza down for the glory of Hell, but by the end of the book, she’s recognized that Hell isn’t worthy.  She’s changed by the friendship she develops with the girl who possesses her.  In the end, Lorelei wants Azaziel for herself.  She feels like they deserve each other.

7.) Where can we read more about Lorelei’s story?

As Above, So Below is available in paperback and ebook from:

• Amazon
• Kindle
• Nook
• Black Bed Sheets Books

Two of my Lorelei stories have appeared independently, as well:

“Never Bargained for You” was published in Demon Lovers, edited by Dana Fredsti writing as Inara LaVey.

“The Angel’s Lair,” an earlier version of the novel’s first chapter, was published in Sins of the Sirens, edited by John Everson.

8.) When was As Above, So Below published?

In February this year.

LINKS AND BIOS OF AUTHORS WHO WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO THEIR OWN CHARACTERS ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2014:

In the tradition of internet memes, I’m supposed to tag 5 more authors and invite them to interview their characters.

MARTHA ALLARD:

Mart Allard is a writer of Dark and Urban Fantasy fiction. She has published short stories in places like Talebones, Not One Of Us, and a handful of anthologies. She is working on a steampunk novel with the vilest villain I’ve ever read.  You can get a taste of her fiction for free on Wattpad — and I strongly recommend that you do.

BRIAN THOMAS:

BrianThomas is the co-author of As Above, So Below.  He served a decade-long stint as a researcher at 20^th Century Fox, specializing in religion, arcana, death, and creative violence.  He contributed his expertise in matters celestial/infernal to such projects asThe X-Files, Millennium, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, The Order, and The Omen, to name a few. He currently operates Rogue Research, a freelance research and technical advising service for filmmakers, authors, and artists.

S. G. BROWNE:

S. G. Browne is the author of the novels Breathers (2009), Fated (2010), and Lucky Bastard (2012), as well as the novella I Saw Zombies Eating Santa Claus (2012) and the e-book short story collection Shooting Monkeys in a Barrel (2012). I count myself lucky to have met Scott at the first Haunted Mansion Writers Retreat.

Scott’s character interview is up here:

http://sgbrowne.com/2014/09/meet-my-character-blog-tour

JOHN PALISANO:

John Palisano’s short stories have appeared in anthologies from PS Publishing, Terror Tales, Lovecraft eZine, Horror Library, Bizarro Pulp, Written Backwards, Dark Continents, Darkscribe, DarkFuse, Dark House, and, likely, one or two more ‘Dark’ places in there. Hard to say. They’re all so . . . dark. His novel Nerves was put out by Bad Moon Books and promptly placed in the “What the hell category is this?” section of Amazon.

MYSTERY WRITER #5:

I’m supposed to tag one more writer, but I’m not one of those people who tag others to participate in something without asking them first. We’re all busy people, right? After asking four additional writers to participate and finding out either they don’t have time or have already done the meme, I’m throwing in the towel.  If you’re a writer and want to interview one of your characters, be my guest.  Comment below or through the Contact Me form above, and I’ll send you the rules & questions.

Thanks again to Laurel Anne Hill for letting me participate!